Process and apparatus for handling, assorting, and screening material



B. W. PAPE March 12, 1929.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING, ASSORTING, AND SCREENING MATERIAL Filed March 21, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet B. W. PAPE MarchlZ, 1929.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR .HANDLING A SSORTINGQANDHSCRENING MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filedfmarcn 21. 1925 A llllll il March 12, 19,29. B W PAPE 1,705,336

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING, ASSORTING) AND SCREENING MATERIAL Filed March 2l, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 12, 1929. Y

UNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE. y

BYRON W. BAPE, or oGnEN, UTAH.

Application led 'March 21, 1925. Serial No. 17,224.

My invention relates to handling coal in retail coal yards or distributing depots, and has for its object to provide an economical process for handling, screening and transferring coal from a coal transport-ing dump car into storage piles and for handling, screening and loading from a coal transporting dump car into delivery vehicles and 'for reclaiming and loading from storage piles into vehicles and the apparatus for carrying out the process.

Wrliile I have shown in the drawings, and shall hereafter refer to the material to be handled as coal, it will be understood that other material, such as burned lime, gravel, and beets may be handledassorted and screened and loaded with equal facility.

n the drawings in which I have illustrated appropriate mechanisms by which the process may be carried out, Figure l is a view in perspective of a retail coal yard constructed and equipped with apparatuses to carry out the process. Figure 2 is a perspective of a portion of the yard. Figure 3 is a perspective of a machine by which the screening, asserting and elevatinO- ofthe material may be accomplished. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the extension chute from that shown in Figure 3, parts cut away. Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus showing the chain belt operation andsupporting rollers. Figure 6 is a side elevation of one end of the axle beam and one of the stub axles. Figure 7 is a plan view of the same end of the axle beam with the stub axle shifted to carry one of the wheels at right angles to the apparatus. Figure v8 is a plan view of one of the stub axles. Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the hinge connection between the main` chute and the extension chute. Figure 10is al side elevation of the same hinge showing the bearing sleeve. Figure 1l is a detail view'showing the relation of the retaining means to the recesses formed in the channels.

rlhe invention consists of a new process for handling material from a railroad dumpcar D, duniping the coal onto a specially constructed yard, and reloading such material.

elevating apparatus for piling such material in a pile or separate piles and for loading it into vehicles as desired, and embraces certain new and novel features of mechanical construction, arrangement and combination of elements, used in the process.

by a new portable, sorting, screening and In carrying out my process I construct a hard surfaced yard, preferably surfaced with concrete, and having a pluralityV of transforming a railway track crossing over said channels. The sides of said channels have right angle recesses or ledgesformed therein, as shown at B and B1, which recesses, or ledges B, are to receive and support detachable rectangular sheets of stiff material such as plank or steel strips C with their ends resting on said ledges and their upper faces on a plane with said yard.

In case the strips C are of wood and ynot steel, vertical pointed pins P are embedded in the concrete of the ledges B, with their points projectingabove the'bottom of theledge to stick into or between and hold said strips C against unintentional displacement or lateral slipping or said strips. In case the strips C are of steel they will be of sulicient weight so that they will not 'be easily displaced unintentionally, in which case vertical pointed pins will not be employed.

The said channels A are spaced apart and preferably parallel, and when the said strips C are in place therein, the portableapparatus and vehicles may be moved thereover as desired. Y

The coal or other material is unloaded from the dump car D by either side bottom dumps or center bottom dumps, onto the `yard and vwill cover a portion of the strips G of the channels A near the railway track on which the dump car Dis standing. Enough of the said .strips C nearest the edge of the pile of material are then removed to allowthe foot port-ion F of th'eelevating apparatus to below- I ered into the uncovered portion of the channel A. The portable elevating apparatus is then moved toward the pile of material with said foot portion F below the unmoved-material supporting strips C. T he foot portion F being in place underneath the material supporting strips 'C and underneath the material which is lsupported by said stripsand the elevating chain of the'apparatus being in operation by its connected motor M, others of said stripsv C are removed, singly, beginning with the strip 'at the edge of the pile which would be where the foot portiony F joins the chute T of the apparatus. The successive removal of thestrips @,'allows the material to fall and slide onto the foot porllt) folded outwardly to forni the hopper when on meshing with the teeth of a gear wheel 13,

with its shaft 14 also mounted on said vcrtical standards 11. A sprocket wheel 15 is also secured on said shaft 14, and is the driving wheel over which the sprocket chain 16 engages.

Another sprocket wheel 17 is secured on one end portion of a horizontal shaft 18 which is journaled through sleeve bearings 46 which are fastened in the circular sheet 45 at `the end of the chute T. The shaft 18 extends underneath the botton'is S and Sa and through the sides of said chutes T and has another sprocket wheel on the end opposite said sprocket wheel 17. A sprocket chain 41 is engaged by said sprocket wheel 4() and is cariied over a sprocket wheel 42, which in turn is secured on a shaft 39 that is mounted in bearings which are secured in the outer end of the extension chute Tn. The sprockets J are also Secured on thesaid shaft 39, which shaft is the main drive shaft of the said chain E. A thin metal sheet S forms the bottom of the saidchute T and foot portion F, of the apparatus and is the member which is encircled by the elevatorchains E. Spaced apart angle irons are secured at their ends to each of said chains E with the horizontal portions of each, bearing against the said sheet S and forming the scraper blades G by which the material is moved up said chute when the apparatus is in use. Y Y

An Vextension chiite Ta is provided by which the material may he raised or lowered` to a higher or to a` lower level than by the said chute T. is connected with said chute T at the beaiings and the said chains E are operated around the sheet Sa in the same manner and direction as around the sheet S. The outer end portion of said extension chute Tl may be raised and lowered by the cables 20 which are run over .she-ave pulleys 21 that are mounted on the upper end of the said frame l, and the other end of chute T, is connected by the cir@ cu sheets 22 which are journaled on the bearings 46,' and by the sheet Sa having a portion thereof bent in a circular groove to eng-rage iriartially arounn the said shaft 18, and with the sheet S above the grooved Vor curved portion of said sheet Sa. This coiistruction allows both sheets to be brought to the saine inclined plane or allows the sheet Sa to be brought to a lesser inclined plane Vthan the sheet S or allows the sheet Sa to beinclined downward from the saidv The said extension chute` T- shaft 18, by the hinged connection between the chute T and the chute Ta. On the upper end of each sidey of the chute T is secured sheets 43 having a semi-circular segment 44 cut from its interior. Covering the said sheet 43 is another circular sheet 45 which together with the said sheet 43 .is cure d on the sides of said chuteT. The central portion of said sheet 45 is out out to receive t-he short sleeve bearings 4G which bearings are secured thereto by counter sunk bolts. On

lthe adjacent end lof the said chute 'Pl is secured a metal sheet 22 having a circular eX- tension wing conforming with the segment opening 44 of the sheet 43, which extension wing is axially bored or cut away to surround the said sleeve bearing 46 and form a journal therefor. The ends of the sheet 43 are at right angles to the chute T andthe upper end is diainetrically through the center of the bearing 46. The upper portion of the end of the sheet 22 is cuton a radial line 47 extending from the wing extension at right angles to the sides of said sheet, in order that when the extension chute Tn is raised tol the saine inclined plane as the chute T that said radial cut 47 will abut against the end of the sheet 43. The sheet 43 and the sli-eet 22 are on a vertical plane and the said sheet 45 holds the sheets '43 and 22 in this vertical plane. Bell crank levers 23 are fiilcruined on the outer end of said chute TM and with the arms of said levers connected by cables 24 with the said frame I, while other arms of said levers are connected with a screeningl and sorting member =V by the adjustable con'- necting rods 30. The saidscreen V is oted below the discharge end of said chute Ta. The said screening and sorting member V has detachable screens 2G which are carried in a supporting frame, to carry the coarser material over the screen, while the finer particles will pass between the screen and fall against the sheet 25 and by it be directed. into one pile or Vehicle. Another screen and directing sheet may be'provided nilore than two grades of material are desirec.

The operation of the apparatus is as fol` lows -As heretofore explained in the proctess, the foot portion F of the apparatus is lowered into one of the said channels A by ie-niovingsonie of the planks or strips C nearest the coal pile and then lowering the foot end of the apparatus by turning the threaded standards 4 by means of the crank rods 7,

then by advancing the apparatus within the A by manuallyv rotating said pivmesh of said e foot portion F is placed beoperated over `then b v shitting the said axles v1, on

`power transmitted to the chains E through the counter shaft 10, the spur gear-12, the gear Wheel 13, the shaft 14E, the sprocket Wheel 15, the chain i6, the sprocket wheel l?, the shalt 18, the sprocket- Wheel 40, the chain lll, the sprocket. Wheel l2 and the shalt 39, which shaft has a small sprocket Wheel 38 on each end portion thereof, over and by which the `said chains .E are operated. frs the said chains E are moved up the chute 'l the scraper blades Gr slide on the s sheet S and 'the material is iovcd oil et the toot portion lll and up the inclined chute T and over the e:- tcnsion chute "lm, with the material resting` on .and sliding over tl said sheet S, as indicated by the `arrows ra The said chains E the `end roller H et the foot piece, and sprocket iv'hee d .ot the eX- tens-ion chute. Ags indicated by the arrows o the said chains pass luider the rollers H1, then over the rollers .ll-l2, Vthen around said sprockets J, and over Ithe rollers lla, and then under the roll-ers H4 and around the rollers H. All el the said rollers ill to H* inclusive are sprocket idler rollers. rlhe rollers ll, H1 lll" and H* idle on stub shatts and the Arollers H2 idle on the shalt 18. The rollers H1 lare encased in the housings U to prevent coal from falling onto and inj-urying' said rollers 'or .retarding the operation et said chains.

Tdhen desiringv toehange the inclination oit the Iextension chute T, the Winch-es 28 on which the cables are Wound are rotated en their axes by the crank handle 37 Whi ch raises lor lowers the delivery end of said chute. lt is 1evident that the chains lil passing` over -fhe idler sprockets H2 and 'over the idler sprockets H3 at the hinge joint travel an equa-l distance at lall .times the chute "l"a is raised or lowered. i Then the material which is on the yard adj a'cen-t the channel A wherein the apparatus has been in operation is handleijl, 'the said `foot `piece F raised out et the said channel A by tur-nino' the cranl; rods 7, and

respective .pivot pins 3111, to a right anule to the said channel-iron beam N the said wheels YV will be in travel alignment parallel with vsaid'beam N, fand the apparatus may be inanually moved lor shifted laterally to the next or any channel A until the yard is cleared et' the material. lWhen desiringv to pile the material in larger and higher piles l use tivo or more et the apparatuses, and discharge from the delivery end et one apparatus vonto the toot .portion F of the other operated apparatus, as shown in Figure 1.

Havingthus described my process and the appara-tus by Which vthe neiv 'features orf the process may be carried'out, l desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim 1. A dump yard `comprising' a hard sui -laced yard having' aplurality ot spaced apart receiving channels ,therein to .receive a congemas-3 veyor, removable elements tunning a cover for said channels to give access tor a conveyor to material on the yard.

2. A hard surfaced yardhaving a plurality et spaced apart channels therein, detachable strips 'forming a cover for said channels, whereby said cover strips may be removed to allow the toot portion ot an elevating, sortinpand screening` apparatus te be inserted under others ot' said strips, to give access tor the apparatus te materiel en the yard.

3. A hard surfaced yard having' channels therein to receive a oet portion oflan eleva ng, sorting' and screening),` apparatus, ledme man formed in the sides ot said channels to receive support removable cover strips Wnich form a cover forsaidchannels, with said strips on a plane with the surta-ce el said yard, mea-ns holding` said cover strips againstV unintentional displacement, wherebv said cover strips may be removed, singly, to allow Vthe material to fall to the toot'poi'tion or a portable, elevating, sortii'igv and screen ing apparatus. i

` f1. A material 'handling apparatus comprising a dump yard having,v a plurality 'ot spaced apart channelsV therein; detachable cover strips 'carried in said channels on a plane With the surface of said yard; a portable ele vater having` one portion adapted to operate longitudinally in said channels and another portion thereof set atan incline.

5. A material handling* apparatus comprisN ing` a plurality oi spacedapart channels, detachable `cover strips for said channels, an inclined chute havinjr a portion adapted to vhe inserted in said channels and below said cover strips, spaced apart 4chair-is operable in chute; scraper blades secured between said hains, and slidable on the bottom oil said chute and means to dri-ve said chain.

l G. A material handling' apparatus compris-- mp; receiving,- channels, detachable cover strips for said channels, a Wheel supported trame, an inclined elevator chute mounted on said 'frame with horizontally disposed toot portion adapted to be inserted in said channels, means to raise and lovver said Jfoot portion in and out et said channels, a chain operable insaid chute and means to drive said chain.

A material handling apparatus comprz ing); a Wheel support i trame, an elevator chute mounted on said traine, and having a horizontally disposed loot portion, means lier and loweringW said toot portion, cf;- tension chute hinge-d to the delivery vend oi said elevator chute, a chain operable in said chutes, means to drive said chain, and discharge means pivoted on the extension chute.

8. ln s "ii 0' and loading,` system, the combination with ajieor, of means forming a trench below the door level, a series ot transversely extending narrow cover sections tor the trench flush With :the floor and UJI adapted to be separately removed to uncover dii'ferent parts of the trench, and an elevating conveyor having its receiving end adapted to extend into the said `trench below the floor level and underneath the cover section at the end of the said series, the said conveyor being bodily movable so that it can be periodically advanced as an entirety along the trench as successive Cover sections are removed from the end of the said series.

9. A material handling apparatus comprising a wheel supported frame, an elevator Chute mounted on said frame, a horizontally disposed foot portion, means to raise and lower said i't'oot portion, an extension chute hinged to the delivery end oi"- said elevator chute, means to raise and lower said extension chute, a chain operable in said chutes, means to drive said chain, and a discharge member pivoted on the extension chute.

10. A material handling apparat-us` comprising a wheel supported trame, an elevator chute mounted on said trame having a horisaid hinges, a bottom in the said extensionl chute which partially encircles the said shaft and on a lower plane and contiguous the botvtom of the elevator chute, a chain operable l2. In a system for storing and reclaiming coal and similar material, the combination with a floor on which a pile of the said ma terial may be supported, of means forming a channel immediately adjacent the floor and extending under the said pile, the last said.-

ineans including a series of transversely eX- tending narrow sections which may be separately removed to uncover the top otl the channel, a conveyor adapted to be locatedv in the channel and to be movable therealong With its receiving end extending underneath the edge` part oi" the pile otmaterial and underneath the removable'section at the end of the said series, the said conveyor being bodily movable so that the conveyor can be periodieally advanced along the channel and toward the pile as the surface of the pile recedes and as successive sections are removed from the end of the said series.

ln testimony whereof have aiiixed my signature.

- BYRON W. PAPE. 

